New NHLPA head Walsh quickly figuring out player priorities
Associated PressMarty Walsh is still fresh in his new job as head of the NHL Players’ Association and trying to learn what members of the union want. “When I get asked the question about whether I’d be interested in seeing the cap go up, my answer is yes, and my follow-up to that was that the players are not interested in raising the escrow right now,” Walsh said at his introductory news conference Thursday, in which topics ranged from finances and relationships to player participation in Pride night warmups and international competition. Just from talking to the 10 members of the search committee who ultimately chose him over more inside-hockey candidates, Walsh said players “deserve a leader that knows who they are and knows their families.” Making note of personal interactions was a common theme of Walsh’s first public comments since accepting the position to succeed Don Fehr. As for other bargaining topics, Walsh quipped, “We’ll have a wonderful relationship as long as Commissioner Bettman agrees with everything I say” before going on to describe his hope for a collaborative approach. “I think that as long as there’s mutual respect for each other, there’ll be a great opportunity here moving forward on behalf of the players and behalf of the league,” Walsh said.
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